She started playing at Horsham as a junior about 40 years ago, and quickly took on more roles.

“I started coaching when I was 16 –  I would ride my bike down here and coach the under-10 children,” she said.

Known by her family friends since she was five as ‘Herb’, because of her tendency to follow her friends around like Herbie the Love Bug, Lakin said it was her parents, Marg and Peter Ledgar who instilled in her a drive to help the wider association.

“My dad was really involved when I was a junior, and my mum has always been involved with sport,” she said.

“I’ve come from a family where we were taught to give back what you’ve been given. I was fortunate enough as I went through juniors to have some legend coaches that put a lot of time into me, and they were my role models.

“I wanted to put back into the association and help it run like it was when I was a junior.”

Lakin is a junior coach at the association, and recently served as president, before taking on the role of vice-president this year.

She said coaching is “like a parent seeing their child take their first step”.

“When that child shoots their first hoop, you look over to the parents and they grow an inch. The kids grow two inches. Seeing that achievement and seeing them learn throughout, and grow into role models themselves, that’s what I try to teach.”

Lakin said it was not until she went to a conference in Bendigo 12 months ago that she realised the Horsham Amateur Basketball Association was the envy of many other regional clubs.

“We took it for granted that this is just how every club runs,” she said. 

“We have been very lucky with some of the people that have come through, like Owen Hughan. I don’t know what we do but we do it right and we breed them right.”

Basketball is still well and truly a family affair for Lakin, as it was for her growing up. 

She has three children under the age of 14, Molly, Jessie and Toby, all of which have taken to basketball with as much enthusiasm as her.

“They have been dragged all around the state for basketball, but that’s just what they know and they wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said.

“It's been the best family life. We’ve been in motels all together and always discuss each tournament. They’ve done really well and I’m trying to grow them into role models as well.”

Lakin said she hopes other families will continue to embrace the association.

“We want families to come here together – it’s not just a drop-off zone,” she said.

“On Saturday nights it’s great to see children here. It’s great to see the kids sit together and the atmosphere is fantastic.”